Safety device for staplers

ABSTRACT

A safety link unit of a stapler is movably connected to a barrel of the stapler and a first section of the safety link unit is located beneath the nose portion and a second section of the safety link unit is located beneath the barrel. A trigger has a first end movably connected to the second section of the safety link unit so that the first end of the trigger is moved toward the activation rod of the valve in the handle of the stapler when the safety link unit is pushed against an object. The trigger is then pulled to push the activation rod to introduce pressurized air into the barrel to eject the staples.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a safety device for staplers and the safety device ensures that the users push the safety link against an object first and then pull the trigger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional pneumatic stapler or nailer generally includes a barrel with a safety link which is located below the nose portion of the stapler and a trigger which is pivotably connected to the barrel. A valve is received in the handle and includes an activation rod which is located behind the trigger. A plate is connected to the trigger or the safety link and when the plate is moved to push the activation rod, high pressurized air enters into the barrel to eject a staple out from the nose portion. Because the stapler is so heavy that the users usually hold the handle and the trigger together, in other words, the trigger is pulled before the stapler aims the object to be stapled. The stapler is then move toward the object to be stapled and the safety link is then compressed against the object. The safety link is pushed toward the barrel and moves the plate to activate the valve to eject one staple. This sequence of operation is wrong obviously, the safety link should be first pushed against the object then the trigger is pulled.

Besides, due to the backward force after each shot, the user feels a force to push him or her backward. In order to resist the backward force, the user will tends to push the stapler forward while the trigger is still being pulled. Once the safety link is pushed against the object again, a second staple shoots out. The second staple is not aimed and might hurt people.

The present invention intends to provide a safety device for staplers and the safety device wherein an end of the trigger is moved with the movement of the safety link unit so that the trigger is moved a ready-to-shoot position when the safety link unit is pushed against the object to be stapled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stapler which comprises a barrel having a nose portion connected to a front end thereof and a handle is connected a rear end of the barrel. A valve is received in the handle and an activation rod retractably extends from the valve. A safety link unit is movably connected to the barrel and a first section of the safety link unit is located beneath the nose portion and movably protrudes from a distal end of the nose portion. A second section of the safety link unit is located beneath the barrel. A trigger has a first end movably connected to a guide portion of the barrel and the second section of the safety link unit is located adjacent to the first end of the trigger. When the safety link unit is pushed against an object, the second section of the safety link unit pushes the first end of the trigger to move toward the activation rod so that when the user pulls the trigger, the activation rod is compressed to activate the valve so that pressurized air enters into the barrel to eject the staples from the nose portion.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a safety link unit for a stapler wherein the trigger is moved by the movement of the safety link unit so that the valve can be activated when the safety link unit is pushed against an object to be stapled.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the stapler wherein the first section of safety link is not yet pushed against the object to be stapled;

FIG. 2 shows that the first section of the safety link is pushed against the object to be stapled and the trigger is moved toward the activation rod of the valve;

FIG. 3 shows that the trigger is pulled to push the activation rod inward;

FIG. 4 shows that the sparing on the safety link unit pushes the safety link unit back to its original position;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the stapler wherein the first section of safety link is not yet pushed against the object to be stapled;

FIG. 6 shows that the first section of safety link is pushed against the object to be stapled and the trigger is moved toward the activation rod of the valve, and

FIG. 7 shows that the trigger is pulled to push the activation rod inward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the stapler of the present invention comprises a barrel 1 having a nose portion connected to a front end thereof and a handle is connected a rear end of the barrel 1. A valve 11 received in the handle and an activation rod 110 retractably extends from the valve 11. The handle includes a fitting at an underside thereof so as to be connected with a hose (not shown) to introduce pressurized air into the handle and the barrel 1 from a compressor (not shown).

A safety link unit 2 is movably connected to the barrel 1 and a first section 20 of the safety link unit 2 is located beneath the nose portion 10 and movably protrudes from a distal end of the nose portion 10. A second section 21 of the safety link unit 2 is located beneath the barrel 1. A spring 4 is mounted to the safety link unit 2 and biased between a flange on the safety rod unit 2 and a stop on the barrel 1, wherein the second section 21 of the safety link unit 2 movably extends through the stop.

A trigger 3 has a first end movably connected to the second section 21 of the safety link unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the first section 20 of the safety link unit 2 is pushed against an object to be stapled, the second section 21 of the safety link unit 2 together with the first end of the trigger 3 are moved toward the activation rod 110.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the user pulls a second end of the trigger 3, the trigger 3 pushes the activation rod 110 inward so that the pressurized air is introduced into the barrel 1 to eject the staples (not shown). After shooting, as shown in FIG. 4, the spring 4 pushes the safety link unit 2 back to its ready-to-shoot position, and the first section 20 of the safety link unit 2 protrudes from the nose portion 10 again.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention wherein the barrel 1 has a nose portion connected to a front end thereof and a handle is connected a rear end of the barrel 1. A valve 11 received in the handle and an activation rod 110 retractably extends from the valve 11. The handle includes a fitting at an underside thereof so as to be connected with a hose (not shown) to introduce pressurized air into the handle and the barrel 1 from a compressor (not shown).

A trigger 3 has a first end movably connected to a guide portion 13 of the barrel 1. The guide portion 13 can be a slot, a rail or any structure that allows the first end of the trigger 3 to move linearly.

A safety link unit 2 is movably connected to the barrel 1 and a first section 20 of the safety link unit 2 is located beneath the nose portion 10 and movably protrudes from a distal end of the nose portion 10. A second section 21 of the safety link unit 2 is located beneath the barrel 1 and adjacent to the first end of the trigger 3 so that the first end of the trigger 3 is moved toward the activation rod 110 by the second section 21 of the safety link unit 2 when the fist end 20 of the safety link unit 2 is pushed against an object.

A spring 4 is mounted to the safety link unit 3 and biased between a flange on the safety rod unit 3 and a stop on the barrel 1. The second section 21 of the safety link unit 3 movably extends through the stop.

The user has to push the first end of the safety link unit 2 against the object such that the trigger 3 can be effectively pulled to activate the valve 11. The safety link unit 2 can be a one-piece member or composed of at least two sections.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A stapler comprising: a barrel having a nose portion connected to a front end thereof and a handle connected a rear end of the barrel, a valve received in the handle and an activation rod retractably extending from the valve; a safety link unit movably connected to the barrel and a first section of the safety link unit located beneath the nose portion and movably protruding from a distal end of the nose portion, a second section of the safety link unit located beneath the barrel, and a trigger having a first end movably engaged with a slot in the barrel, the second section of the safety link unit located adjacent to the first end of the trigger so that the first end of the trigger is linearly moved toward the activation rod within the slot when the safety link unit is adapted to push against an object.
 2. The stapler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spring is mounted to the safety link unit and biased between a flange on the safety link unit and a stop on the barrel, the second section of the safety link unit movably extends through the stop.
 3. (canceled)
 4. A stapler comprising: a barrel having a nose portion connected to a front end thereof and a handle connected a rear end of the barrel, a valve received in the handle and an activation rod retractably extending from the valve; a safety link unit movably connected to the barrel and a first section of the safety link unit located beneath the nose portion and movably protruding from a distal end of the nose portion, a second section of the safety link unit located beneath the barrel, and a trigger having a first end pivotably connected to the second section of the safety link unit, the first end of the trigger being moved toward the activation rod when the safety link unit is adapted to push against an object.
 5. The stapler as claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring is mounted to the safety link unit and biased between a flange on the safety Iink unit and a stop on the barrel, the second section of the safety link unit movably extends through the stop. 